(04-24-2020, 04:17 AM)Jesper Wrote: (04-23-2020, 09:08 PM)CharleyFarley Wrote: Checking the limit screws, I found that not only was the low limit not set right, allowing the chain to fall off onto the axle, but the high limit wouldn't even let the chain onto the small cog.
Tsk, tsk Charley;
Always check the new or "new to you" bike workings before a ride. Lesson learned on that one, eh! Sorry that the shop didn't do you right as they should have; I don't trust another with my safety, as I've watched "mechanics" the using wrong methods, tools, and diligence; a couple of which caused damage, another who almost did, and one who wouldn't do the basic maintenance work at all (cleaning a good chain!, wanted to sell me a new one though). My apologies to the great mechanics out there; I'm sure you don't always the credit you deserve for the time and effort it takes to do a good job, and hearing about others' nightmares makes you a little ill. Even then, I feel it is still the responsibility of the rider to verify that the work was done properly before heading out into the "wild"; short test ride around the block saves a lot of heartache (and road rash)!
Take care man, and thanks; I read your stuff regularly,
Jesper
Yes, I sure did learn a lesson! And, like you, I prefer to know the job is done right by doing it myself.
I had just sold my motorcycle after many years of riding, and because I'm now retired, I didn't want to just sit around and get fat, so cycling became my new interest. I started with a new cruiser from the local LBS. After 1,000 miles the gears were playing up, and I knew nothing about derailleurs, so I took it to the bike shop. Their mechanic said that the chain is shot and they only last for 800 miles, so he put a new chain on, and straightened the derailleur bracket because it was hanging outboard (from new). A few weeks later the chain broke. I went back to the shop and bought a new chain. On comparing it side by side with the broken chain, I saw that it was eight inches short, so back to the shop for a longer chain. He said the cruiser has a longer frame and they had to add a piece to the new chain. I then realized that the piece they added on was where it broke; they must have pushed the pin in too far. So they made me a new chain and put it on.
The front brake on the bike was snatching, badly. They advised me to clean it with alcohol and, if necessary, 400 grade paper. I did both but it only lasted for a few brakings. I removed the wheel and tire and ran a micrometer around the rim but it was accurate all the way around. I pressed on the sides of the rim to see if there was a soft spot. Nothing! The only thing I could think of was dissimilar metals not being mixed properly at the factory. So back to bike shop to order some better rims. The mechanic said "All rim brakes snatch," and that I'd be wasting my money. I knew that wasn't true, so I ordered new rims, anyway, and it cured the problem. The mechanic also snapped at me for absolutely no reason. Apparently, he has a bit of a problem with that because he did it again at another time. It was the final straw that caused me to quit using them.
I bought a new Sun fat bike from them. It came with a hub gear but I noticed a hanger bracket for a derailleur, so I got them to customize it with a 7-speed derailleur. After getting the bike and taking it home, I found it wasn't really rideable because the first gear was like fourth. They assumed that the chain ring was matched to the derailleur. They didn't even ride the bike to test it after the conversion. So it had to go back to them and it took several weeks to get the correct chain ring.
After getting the bike back, while cleaning it, I noticed something odd about the rear disc brake caliper. It's supposed to sit flat on the mounting bracket, but they had lifted up one end and put a concave washer in. I'm no mechanic but I knew this was shade tree mechanic stuff. After I removed the washer, the caliper bit down on the rotor and prevented the wheel from turning. I saw that the mounting bracket was adjustable. It took me a minute to adjust it so the rotor ran freely. I didn't complain to them about this.
I later traded the cruiser and fat bike in for a new Specialized Fatboy. While cleaning it, I noticed the rear caliper bolts looked odd. Each bolt was too long so they put a 3/4" stack of washers on the bolts. More shade tree stuff! I removed the bolts and cut them down to the right length. I did contact the business owner on his Facebook page to tell him about the stacks of washers, and he wrote back with an excuse that the washers are for adjusting disc brakes; he ignored the fact that his mechanic had botched it. However, I read that post mounted calipers don't use those convex/concave washers. It was the same bike on which the chain got wrapped around the axle.
There's more but this is getting rather long. Five botched jobs! Why I put up with this business for so long, I don't know, but it got me into buying bike tools and learning from videos how to do all my own repairs. I've done my own cars and truck mechanical work since I was young, but that doesn't make me a bike mechanic. As of this date I can now true a wheel and tension the spokes. More recently, I replaced the head set and free hub on my fat bike, and cleaned and re-greased the wheel bearings with White Lightning Crystal grease. And I don't have to keep making the 14-miles round trip to that awful LBS. I found a much better bike shop where I recently bought a new cruiser. It's twice as far away, but well worth the drive. And what a difference!
Some people advise not buying a bike from a big box store, but they don't come any worse than my first LBS.